Mount Kenya region
The Mount Kenya region, colloquially referred to as Mlima in Kiswahili language or Murima, is a geopolitical, cultural and economic area located in the central part of Kenya neighboring Mount Kenya. It primarily encompasses 9 counties: Nyeri, Meru, Kirinyaga, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, Kiambu, Murang'a, Laikipia,
While widely recognized in political discourse, it is not an official administrative unit under the 2010 Constitution, which recognizes only the national government and the 47 Counties of Kenya. As of early 2026, the inclusion of Kiambu in this bloc has become a subject of political debate. A movement led by some Kiambu leaders has sought to distance the county from the "Mount Kenya" label.
Demographics
As of 2025 the population of Mt Kenya region is 9.46 Million which is a 1.41% increase from 2024. Kiambu County is the most populous County with 2.7 Million people, Followed by Meru County 1.6 Million people, while, Tharaka-Nithi and Kirinyaga had the least population growth with 0.95% and 0.91% respectively.Religion
Christianity is the dominant religion in Mt Kenya with 97% adherent's, Protestantism was the largest denomination with around 37% being Protestants with Meru County and Tharaka-Nithi County having the more than 40% Protestants, Catholicism followed with around 24% adherents Evangelism 22%, African Instituted Churches represented 8% of the Population. Islam was a minority religion with only 0.68% of the population being Islamic. 1.37% were Irreligious with Laikipia County and Nakuru County having the most Irreligious people| County | Christianity | Protestant | Catholic | Evangelical Churches | African Instituted Churches | Orthodox | Other Christian | Islam | Hindu | Traditionists | Other Religion | No religion / Atheists | Don't Know | Not Stated |
| Mt Kenya | 96.66% | 37.42% | 24.48% | 22.09% | 8.22% | 0.60% | 3.83% | 0.68% | 0.03% | 0.18% | 0.93% | 1.37% | 0.14% | 0.01% |
| Embu | 97.39% | 36.62% | 26.98% | 22.71% | 8.43% | 0.60% | 2.06% | 0.47% | 0.02% | 0.06% | 0.81% | 1.14% | 0.11% | 0.01% |
| Kiambu | 96.66% | 36.74% | 24.51% | 21.86% | 7.79% | 0.74% | 5.01% | 0.89% | 0.05% | 0.13% | 0.81% | 1.28% | 0.16% | 0.02% |
| Kirinyaga | 97.94% | 39.73% | 29.61% | 20.19% | 5.63% | 0.38% | 2.40% | 0.40% | 0.03% | 0.04% | 0.55% | 0.92% | 0.12% | 0.01% |
| Laikipia | 92.22% | 29.71% | 28.75% | 21.15% | 6.86% | 0.32% | 5.42% | 1.65% | 0.04% | 1.39% | 1.41% | 3.05% | 0.24% | 0.01% |
| Meru | 96.26% | 40.06% | 20.40% | 23.82% | 8.42% | 0.62% | 2.96% | 0.82% | 0.02% | 0.13% | 1.23% | 1.37% | 0.15% | 0.02% |
| Murang'a | 97.63% | 39.42% | 24.68% | 19.70% | 9.86% | 0.49% | 3.49% | 0.35% | 0.01% | 0.09% | 0.73% | 1.09% | 0.09% | 0.01% |
| Nyandarua | 95.94% | 30.46% | 17.13% | 30.69% | 11.15% | 0.58% | 5.92% | 0.15% | 0.01% | 0.11% | 1.38% | 2.31% | 0.09% | 0.01% |
| Nyeri | 97.75% | 37.96% | 27.95% | 19.27% | 9.09% | 0.63% | 2.84% | 0.60% | 0.02% | 0.08% | 0.61% | 0.81% | 0.13% | 0.00% |
| Tharaka-Nithi | 97.39% | 44.02% | 27.67% | 17.90% | 4.79% | 0.68% | 2.33% | 0.19% | 0.00% | 0.06% | 1.04% | 1.14% | 0.16% | 0.02% |
Human Development
As of 2023 the Human Development Index of Mt Kenya region is 0.643 which was higher than the national average of 0.601, Nyeri County, Kiambu County and Embu County are the most developed with an HDI exceeding 0.65, Murang'a County and Tharaka-Nithi County have the least human development with an hdi of around 0.62.Age Distribution
The median age of mount Kenya region is 24.5 which is the highest in the country. Nyeri County and Kirinyaga County have the highest median age of 27 years, Followed by Embu County and Murang'a County with 25 years. Laikipia County and Nyandarua County have the least median age with a median age of 21 years. Central Mount Kenya region and East Mount Kenya region had the highest median age while Western and Northern Mount Kenya region had the least median age.History
The Mount Kenya region has long been inhabited by a diverse mix of ethnolinguistic groups for centuries.The Mount Kenya region has served as a cultural crossroads for centuries, with Cushitic-speaking groups, Nilotic-speaking peoples and later the Bantu groups arriving in waves from the 3rd century CE onwards. This resulted in a complex, intermingled history of migration, interaction, and assimilation, as these communities—including the Kikuyu, Meru, and Embu who established agricultural and trading systems while interacting with earlier hunter-gatherer groups like the Gumba and Athi. The extensive intermingling is evident in modern demographics, with groups like the Kikuyu showing significant genetic and cultural influence from both Cushitic and Nilotic ancestors.
Today the Mount Kenya area is home to predominantly the Kenyan Highland Bantu communities and some Nilotic groups such as the Maasai people, an Eastern Nilotic group, have historically interacted with these Bantu groups, particularly in the lower, drier slopes and surrounding plains, such as in Laikipia. The Gikuyu, Embu, and Meru are Bantu-speaking peoples who settled in Kenya's central highlands following migrations from the northeast. While their oral tradition and beliefs trace spiritual roots to Mount Kenya, the mountain serves as a central landmark in a broader traditional cosmology. Significant settlement occurred between the 17th and 19th centuries, during which these groups adopted social structures like age set systems through interaction with Nilotic and Cushitic neighbors. Governance was maintained through these age-sets and councils such as the Njuri Ncheke and Kiama. Traditional livelihoods of farming and herding were supplemented by 19th-century trade in ivory and hides.
Colonial History
In the late 19th century Mount Kenya fell under British colonial control. Much of its fertile highland became part of the "White Highlands", displacing many local farmers to reserves. African political consciousness rose, and by the 1930s the Kikuyu, Embu and Meru communities began organizing through groups like the Kikuyu Central Association and later the Kenya African Union. This culminated in the Mau Mau uprising, an armed anti-colonial rebellion largely led by Kikuyu who hid in the forests of Mount Kenya and Aberdares. Thousands of "oathed" insurgents took refuge on Mt. Kenya, attacking settler farms and colonial outposts. The colonial government's brutal Emergency took a heavy toll on the local population. Notable figures from the region included Dedan Kimathi, Wangari Maathai, and Jomo Kenyatta.Geography
The mountain's steep altitude gradient creates distinct ecological zones. Montane forests cover the slopes up to about 2,500–3,000 m, above which dense bamboo zone and heathland extend to ~4,000 m, and moorland tussock-grass plains occur up to ~5,000 m. Twelve small glaciers and about 20 tarns remain on the highest peaks, though they are rapidly retreating due to climate change. The lower slopes are drained by rivers and feed several reservoirs. For example, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Laikipia County and the Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve form part of the mountain's watershed system. These conservancies link the forested foothills of Mt. Kenya to the adjacent Laikipia plateau and Somalian/Maasai savanna ecosystem.Mount Kenya and its surroundings are protected as a national park and forest reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its outstanding natural beauty and biodiversity. The Mount Kenya National Park and the adjacent forest reserve cover the highlands above ~2,000 m. They safeguard the mountain's unique flora and fauna. Lower on the mountain are large tea and coffee farms, as well as vast dairy pastures. As of the 2019 census, the ten Mt. Kenya counties ranged from very populous to sparsely populated. The table below summarizes 2019 population and area for each county in the region.
Except for Kiambu, most of the region is predominantly rural. For example, Kiambu's urban population far exceeds its rural, whereas Kirinyaga's rural residents greatly outnumber its urban. Agriculture dominates the lower regions, with crops like tea and coffee as cash crops, plus maize, beans and horticulture. The region is also a dairy powerhouse and contains projects like the Mwea rice irrigation scheme.